Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New York 2008: The Mitsubishi i is A-OKei]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/22/new-york-2008-the-mitsubishi-i-is-a-okei/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/22/new-york-2008-the-mitsubishi-i-is-a-okei/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/22/new-york-2008-the-mitsubishi-i-is-a-okei/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click image for a high-res gallery of the turbocharged Mitsubishi i

I'm the resident kei car obsessive here at Autoblog. That means I'm the guy who actually thinks, "That is awesome," when he reads the (Google translated) announcement of yet another Suzuki Wagon R variant. Hell, I did two posts on the one-off Hello Kitty Mitsubishi i. Keis are cool. So, you can imagine how happy I was to see that Mitsubishi brought along a small fleet of its i minicars to the New York Auto Show this year.

Foreground: i MiEV, Background: i TurboMitsubishi's focus at the show was squarely on the the all-electric i MiEV, which goes on sale in Japan next year and will be tested in North America this fall. The gasoline-powered version was on hand, too, though. I drove the i MiEV for AutoblogGreen, and was a passenger in a black i Turbo. Head over to AutoblogGreen for driving impressions of the i MiEV, and note that many of the observations there apply to both the electric and gasoline-powered cars.

The i Turbo you see here is powered by a 660cc 3-cylinder that delivers around 64 horsepower. It's got around half the torque of the electric i MiEV and it's buzzier-sounding (obviously), but it felt just as well-suited to city driving in New York as its battery-powered counterpart. It can comfortably transport four adults and a bit of cargo, too. Try doing that in a smart.

Mitsubishi is monitoring public reaction to the cars this week, so if you go to the show and like what you see, make sure to let them know. Me? I'll happily take one in black -- with a DAMD kit for optimum not-exactly-badassedness.

Head to AutoblogGreen for a full i MiEV review and video.

Gallery: Mitsubishi i Turbo - Live in NY


Gallery: Mitsubishi i MiEV - Live in NY


All photos Copyright (C) 2008 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

New York 2008: The Mitsubishi i is A-OKei originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog greenautobloggreeni mievIMievkei carkei carsKeiCarKeiCarsmievmitsubishi iMitsubishiInew yorknew york 2008NewYorkNewYork2008nyiasnyias 08nyias 2008nyias08nyias2008Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[New York '08 Preview: Ford Transit Connect Taxi - Son of Crown Vic]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/new-york-08-preview-ford-transit-connect-taxi-son-of-crown-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/new-york-08-preview-ford-transit-connect-taxi-son-of-crown-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/new-york-08-preview-ford-transit-connect-taxi-son-of-crown-v/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford Transit Connect Taxi
Click image for a hi-res photo gallery

In the era of the greener taxicab, the extremely capable Ford Crown Victoria is now gauche. Ford knows this, and later this morning in the Jacob Javits Center, it will unveil a new taxi concept that's about as different from the Vic as you can get. The Ford Transit Connect Taxi that was spied last week combines spaciousness and utility with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions thanks to the 2.0-liter four it packs underhood (no hybrid, though, which would be really big in cities like New York). The yellow exterior is offset with matte grey accents, including the combo fascia/bumpers fore and aft.

Ford Transit Connect TaxiPassengers ride in an airy cabin that feels even more so in the concept thanks to a vista roof that looks nice but would probably never make the cut on a real fleet vehicle. Ford and Microsoft's Work Solutions package powers the system feeding content to the 13-inch display facing the backseat passengers. In addition to acting as the meter and electronic payment interface, the display also supplies "infotainment" info, live traffic and weather, and GPS functionality. Folks who still pay their fares with wallet cabbage can send their greenbacks forward through the concept's fancy little orb in the rear partition (Ford calls it "Sputnik").

As good as the Crown Victoria taxi is, its days are numbered as cities move to green up their taxi fleets. If the Transit Connect can handle the amount of punishment the Vic regularly endures, it's a pretty compelling package. Not only is it more roomy and efficient than the Vic, it could probably be made readily accessible for disabled riders, too. Ford is intent on showing a variety of uses for its new Euro-sourced work van, and this seems like a good one.

Gallery: Ford transit Connect Taxi Concept


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading New York '08 Preview: Ford Transit Connect Taxi - Son of Crown Vic

New York '08 Preview: Ford Transit Connect Taxi - Son of Crown Vic originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnew york 2008NewYork2008nyiasnyias 08Nyias08taxitransit connecttransit connect taxiTransitConnectTransitConnectTaxiWed, 19 Mar 2008 00:02:00 EST<![CDATA[New York '08 Preview: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP packs 402 HP... and a third pedal!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/15/new-york-08-preview-2009-pontiac-g8-gxp-packs-402-hp-and-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/15/new-york-08-preview-2009-pontiac-g8-gxp-packs-402-hp-and-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/15/new-york-08-preview-2009-pontiac-g8-gxp-packs-402-hp-and-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for hi-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 GXP

The Northeast is the Pontiac division's largest market, and the brand -- which has played the stepchild in recent years, banished to the outer limits of exhibition halls -- is finally getting its own coming out party in New York next week. The resurgent Performance Division will flex its muscles at the Javits Center. Joining the 2010 G8 sport truck (and maybe another newcomer sporting the Arrowhead badge) is the highly-anticipated Pontiac G8 GXP.

The new Poncho flagship wears subtle visual tweaks including updated front and rear fascias plus the same 19" HSV wheels that were shown on the G8 concept. More importantly, the GXP packs GM's 6.2L LS3 V8 underhood. In this application (it's also in the Vette, where it makes even more power), the small-block punches out 402 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque rearward via a Tremec 6-speed manual gearbox or a HydraMatic 6L80 auto. (Add another 2 pound-feet of twist if you opt for the latter.) A fully-adjustable suspension helps keep the muscle sedan planted to the tarmac, and stopping power comes from the gang at Brembo. Look for an upgraded interior with glitzier trim and well-bolstered leather sport seats. A Pontiac stand littered with V8s? It's sure been a while. Welcome back to the party, guys. Let the wanton tire destruction begin!

We'll have plenty of live shots for you from the floor on Wednesday.

Gallery: 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP


[Source: GM]

Continue reading New York '08 Preview: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP packs 402 HP... and a third pedal!

New York '08 Preview: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP packs 402 HP... and a third pedal! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 g8 gxp2009 Pontiac G8 GXP2009G8Gxp2009PontiacG8Gxpbreakingg8g8 gxpG8Gxpnew york 08new york 2008NewYork08NewYork2008nyiasnyias 08nyias 2008Nyias08Nyias2008Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST